I really love that Batman had a second mask under his first one. Quoth Major Glory from Dexter's Laboratory: "When I said secret identity, I _mean_ secret identity!"
lol, reminds of Kakashi and that one filler episode of Naruto where them kids spend the whole episode trying to see under his mask only for him to have another one. Maybe one of the writers was inspired by that Batman episode?
When I first saw Wormwood, I thought he was supposed to be Riddler, without the costume. I was just starting to watch Batman and I hadn't seen Riddler's debut episode. On my defense, Wormwood and Nygma have the same va in my country and they kinda look alike.
This is actually one of my personal favorite episodes because it shows how Batman is able to manipulate criminals to his own ends, while also showing a genuine sort of respect towards Wormwood for his abilities. I always took Batman sending him the cowl to be both a taunt and a mark of respect in equal measure, as Wormwood's trap was successful even if Batman came out on top. Sort of "you won the battle, but not the war" deal.
Wormwood in the show also reminds me of Scarecrow, using manipulation and mind games to get his prey to act the way he wants. Maybe he was one of Crane's students? I mean someone had to enjoy taking his classes...
While not a true Riddler clone, it's seems to me that Wormwood had an effect on the actual Riddler. In Batman Forever, released three years after this episode, Riddler"s riddles are very similar to Wormwood's clues only shorter.
@SerumLake I get where you're coming from on episodes like this, but for me I'm kinda okay with not every single episode being movie worthy yk? I actually kinda wanted to see more episodes where Batman is just on an average day of patrol, beating up regular gangsters and overall just showing his competency and letting the animation speak for itself. You can still make a very simple situation an awesome spectacle to watch and be engaged with without always depending on larger than life characters or plot lines.
Fun fact: Bud Cort, the voice actor for Wormwood, also voiced Toyman in Superman: The Animated Series. I remember watching this episode a few times and in retrospect, I actually think that he had potential as a character. He might not have ever been on par with one of the inmates at Arkham but he was nevertheless ruthless and calculating.
I joined as a member because I couldn't wait to see this video. I LOVED the C&CC. I always thought it was great writing to have Batman seemingly be defeated. Even knowing the ending, I always saw it as Batman didn't want to give up the cowl to him, but was outsmarted in the wax museum. He did win the war, but he lost that battle. And I agree that Wormwood was one dimensional, but I think that more episodes would have helped flesh him out. And now I'm realizing that I'm rambling and shouldn't make my first comment be a major thesis. Great video!
Another great one. I had drawn the Wormwood/Riddler connection before, but I appreciate the distinct differences you point out. On the subject, I observe that the Riddler Issue is evident here for the BTAS writing team; you mentioned before they often found it tough to think up suitably clever traps, ploys, and puzzles worthy of Riddler's mind-bending machinations. This is evident here too when the trap Wormwood comes up with (that's not the wax museum one taken from the comics) is a rote damsel tied to the tracks. However, not to be too hard on the team, I like the simple efficiency of the mini-golf sand trap. But I agree, even a weaker BTAS episode makes for a pretty entertaining time overall. I specifically recall being entertained by Wromwood's riddles as a kid and the enjoyed how the locations he chose were all recreation venues that looked like they'd be pretty fun to visit before Wormwood reconfigured them.
Jigsaw for kids. Considering how little exposure Riddler got in this series, Wormwood could just be a way to use the extra deathtraps the writers came up with without having to do the work of coming up with plausible riddles to go with them. I actually remember this one really well from when I was a kid, Wormwood impressing with having a multi-layered deathtrap where getting past one lands you in the next.
I heard somewhere that the writers wanted to do more with Riddler, but the episodes they came up with were always too complicated to fit into the length of a single episode.
@@jordanloux3883 Riddler should honestly be more of a information broker in Arkham, like Hannibal. He gives you riddles of how the other villains operate, and Batman has to figure out what he means.
In a way, Wormwood reminded me a lot of Arcade from the X-Men. For both guys it wasn’t the villains themselves that were the threat, but the death traps that they created in various rooms that were.
This is one of my favorite episodes. I'm still upset that the audio on the Blu-ray is messed up. The quality control on the BTAS boxset is an embarrassment. The remaster for Mask of the Phantasm got my hopes up, but they clearly didn't put enough time and money into the remaster for the show. I'm glad I kept my DVD set.
I actually like Wormwood in concept. Watching everything from On Leather Wings to Destroyer you can see Batman cutting his teeth on folks like Wormwood. Not everything needs to be Lex Luther’s 36 part plan to be a living computer god, sometimes Joe Chill just wants a necklace. That said watching this episode the first time I had a Maxwell Shrek moment. “Baron Josek? Why are you dressed like Batman?”
Honestly a pretty cool villain, they should've used him again or maybe put him in the cadmus arc in jlu since other villains like professor milo and clock king reappeared that way as well
I always liked the episodes that didn't feature a regular rogue, they allow Batman to feature more. Episodes with Joker or Two-Face are about them, leaving Batman as a side character on his own show oftentimes.
Since this episode aired before the Riddler was introduced, I thought Wormwood WAS going to become the BTAS Riddler in a future episode. The comparison to The Riddler is due to both men sending people riddles, obviously.
Oddly this episode lived rent free in my head. i never caught to many episodes as a kid(the opening of btas scare me as a wee young-ling.) BUT i caught this episode and i really LOVED the twist at the end
Honestly, on a recent rewatch, I think Cape and Cowl Conspiracy is on the higher end of my tier list. b+ At least. The twists were fun, Wormwood was the right amount of insidious/pathetic and it showed a humourous side to Batman, at least imo, that he'd put on this whole charade just to help the police
Can we just acknowledge how hilarious it is that under the mask, Batman just has ANOTHER mask? Because he absolutely would do something that ridiculous.
While the episode as a whole may not be memorable, it contains one of my favorite scenes where Batman bursts into in the dinner, grabs the Baron and leave. Just feels like something Batman would do.
Even though this episode hasn't been on the top radar of many, I rather enjoy this episode! It's not everyday you get a death trap themed villain, it was quite enjoyable seeing Batman wear a chubby disguise knowing he had his cape and cowl handy!😅 Wormwood here was still willing to fight until he knew the gig was finally up! Plus that twist at the end was very awesome! Turning the typical boring episode into something memorable!😊
There is also The Cluemaster who is similar to The Riddler. I found his origin story in an episode of The Batman where he used to be on a game show called Think, Thank, Thunk, and lost to someone smarter than him which he felt cheated! This version of Cluemaster was obese and wore an orange costume with the numbers, 1, 2, and 3 on it compared to his comic counterpart where he wore an orange outfit and wore a red scarf to cover his face. He was also the father to one of the Batgirls!
This episode has always been one of my favorites. Mostly because of the gag at the end of the episode. Comedy gold (also, this episode is the first appearance of the bat signal)
This is still one of my favorite moments in television. "I want...TO WEAR THEM!" I was a kid when I saw this and it gave me literal chills. Edit: Yeah, I got the line wrong, I haven't seen this episode in thirty years...
Wormwood is a intelligent villain like Riddler yet they have differences that separates them but his scheme of stealing the cape and cowl from Batman is something the Mad Hatter from the Adam West series would do
Honestly, I can see Wormwood/The Interrogator doing well in the modern climate if he's rebooted with a competent writer. He could be someone who's paid to extract information from people, with him having no true loyalties except who pays the most. An extra layer could be added by him being effective at getting info from criminals locked in Arkham about their plans on the outside and being paid by the warden to do so, but his tactics and freelance work putting him at odds with Batman. Just give him more characterization to make him more distinct from The Riddler, and you're set!
It would be interesting, especially if Batman realizes he can beat Wormwood by just putting him on the payroll. Plus it tackles an interesting question: How do you stop a criminal that enjoys being a criminal? Edit: On top of it, maybe make him one of Professor Crane's students. Someone who Crane hates, since he thinks Wormwood is diluting his life's work into simple industrial espionage.
I remembered when you said some episodes had oddly stilted animation and I didn't know what you meant. Then I saw this episode and was like, "Oh, yeah, I see it now." Do love John Rhys Davies as the baron though. Fantastic casting.
The Strange Secret of Bruce Wayne is another one that stands out to me for having poor animation. Strange’s henchmen walk weirdly and their height keeps shifting when they’re standing next to Strange’s car.
@@SerumLake I haven't watched it in a while, but I remember this one in particular, momentum was always weird and things seemed like they weren't being effected by gravity normally.
@@SerumLake Strange Secret of Bruce Wayne is a decent episode but such a misfire of the Hugo Strange character. imagine if they had adapted Monster Men or Prey instead.
As a kid, this episode’s twist made it one of my favorite non-Supervillain episodes right alongside It’s Never Too Late. Having since gotten my hands on a copy of Detective Comics #450 I do appreciate some of the expansion to the story, it’s fleshed out very well.
During the early days of BTAS, when Alan Burnett first came on board, they needed to get scripts produced as quickly as possible. So Martin Pasko contacted some the Batman comic book writers he knew to see if he could get them to write a few scripts. That's how Marv Wolfman ended up cowriting Feat of Clay, Denny O'Neal adapted The Demon's Quest, and we got this episode.
The Cape and Cowl Conspiracy is, truth be told, one of my favorite episodes of Batman: The Animated Series. I honestly think it was well-written, and the 10-year old me was actually pissed when Batman was "defeated" but that disappointment turned into excitement when the reveal was made. Wormwood, to me, was a good villain of the week given his sadism and how he is not a typical supervillain with a dedicated gimmick.
Something i find pretty interesting is that, as far as i can tell, wormwood doesn't involve other people in his death traps. Only the target themself. Hell, in the train death trap, after batman finds out the woman was a hologram, i think wormwood even says something about that.
I have always been aware of the fact that I am in the minority when it comes to this episode. I put it in my top 25, and it certainly my favorite episode featuring a one-off character. I really like that Wormwood isn't interested in Batman; he's got a job to do and that's what he's here for. I never made the Riddler comparison until somebody else made it for me, as well. And oh my God that twist ending was mind-blowing to me as a kid. Maybe it is the nostalgia goggles as a result, but I will always love this episode.
Only thing about this episode is that introduces the Batsignal which means any episode that doesn't have it are before this episode. Mask of the Phantasm happeneds after this episode. It does not happen before the show started.
I, personally, always got a kick with this episode, specifically how Batman fooled Wormwood into having a false sense of security, thinking he outsmarted him, when in reality, Batman won the whole time. That twist, alone, brings this episode up a few points, in my opinion. It really shows who Batman is, one of the greatest detectives and spies in fiction.
Ah yes, Big Time next time. The small time thug with delusions of hitting the big time. It's kind of funny how, even with super strength, he can't rise above being a petty thug. The best example: When he is in his own gang, and his "partner in crime" starts bringing in more guys, Big Time gets scared of being muscled out of his own gang, despite, you know, being the muscle.
I'm surprised. This is still one of my favorite episodes of the show. I would actually put it in my personal top ten. I actually loved Wormwood as a character and his use in the episode made it feel more grounded to me. It felt like a great detective episode or film and while he wasn't the flashy villain like a Riddler or Joker, he had a lot of qualities I really liked.
I’ve watched this episode and it’s a good one imo, i’ve heard Wormwood is similar to Jigsaw in the way he uses his traps i do wish they made his design stick out a bit more like giving him a mask. Apparently they changed the name of the person Wormwood is working for too, Baron Wacklaw Josek. This is also the first appearance of the Batsignal so that counts.
While I didn't enjoy this episode much, I think the reveal that Batman was secreting pushing Wormwood into doing these schemes on himself was quite the jumpscare.
This Year Plz Do Videos Talking About The Villains Seen In The Following Superhero Shows 1)Batman The Brave And The Bold 2)Teen Titans 3)Legion Of Superheroes 4)Young Justice 5)Green Lantern The Animated Series 6)Teen Titans Go 7)Batwheels 8)My Adventures With Superman 9)Harley Quinn + Kite Man Hell Yeah 10)The Spectacular Spider-Man 11)X-Men The Animated Series 12)Spider-Man The Animated Series 13)Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1987 14)Captain Planet 15)He Man 2002 16)The Tick 17)Darkwing Duck 18)Ben 10 19)The Powerpuff Girls 20)Danny Phantom 21)Hulk The Animated Series 22)Iron Man The Animated Series 23)Fantastic Four The Animated Series 24)The Superhero Squad Show 25)Fantastic Four Worlds Greatest Heroes 26)Iron Man Armored Adventures 27)X-Men Evolution 28)Wolverine And The X-Men 29)The Avengers Earths Mightiest Heroes 30)Spider-Man 2003
to be fair i enjoy their kind of ep some time batman just need to do a low end crime with basic crimeal if ever batman case is some big 100s of lives at threat it be draining so now and then smaller scalre ep works well
Can you make a video about Batman the brave and the bold please. It‘s one of my all time favorite Batman shows and I whould love if you whould make a video about it.
I will get to it one day. If it’s any consolation I’ve talked about Brave and the Bold versions of characters in my Character Comparison series of videos: ruclips.net/p/PL0YgbPmiDIr4cCUP9DYhYkMmsV3pjAQ7o&si=prAalVvAPPHPQTw5
So i think youre right as to why they changed his first name, but for the wrong reason. Wormwood is in Revelations so i think they changed his name to Josiah to complete the Biblical naming scheme. Plus, yes, it does sound better
When ever you run out of Batman topics you always can switch to Darkwing Duck reviews. Like comparing the characters from the show to the characters they parodying.
I dunno. While certainly not a stand out episode, I kind of appreciate this one for its lower stakes and showing Batman dealing with more mundane criminals than his typical rogue's gallery. And this early in the run, I can see the studio trying to gin up a few lesser known or home grown antagonists to give the series its own identity. Wormwood himself might not be anything too special, but (to use the wrestling parlance), he makes for a good "squash match" for Batman as the series builds up to more substantive confrontations.
I'm surprised that it's ranked so low. Personally, I think it's a good episode. I like these more grounded stories where the most outlandish element is Batman himself. Plus the twist reveal is such a great showcase of Batman's talents; that he's not just a pugilant PI, but also a master of disguise.
I actually really liked this episode. Of course, that's a commonality for me: I tend to like the ones others describe as the worst, the least interesting, the ones that are entirely skippable in people's minds. They help flesh out the world Batman lives in. The writing on some of these is only "okay" and the animation is not the best. But there are redeeming values even to stinkers like I've Got Batman in my Basement … they all have their charm. (huh, why are so many of the weakest BTAS episodes featuring the Penguin?)
This ain't a very flawed ep, unlike "Prophecy of Doom", but I can see that it needed more adjustments. Case in point, this could have been a Riddler ep and made a fine interquel to "If You're So Smart, Why Aren't You Rich?" and "What Is Reality?" (and considering the latter ep, that means the Riddler should brilliantly get away with it, unlike Wormwood). 1:02: At least the adaptation has good presentation that makes it at least nicely rewatchable. Cannot say the same about the Phoenix and Dark Phoenix Sagas of X-Men: The Animated Series, which are sluggish both in comic and cartoon form. 1:17: Dang, censorship actually IMPROVED on the ep title. 1:34: Author of the Superman: Last Son of Krypton and Miracle Monday novels (worth reading for fans of weird and wonderful Richard Donner Superman, by the way) and the Kingdom Come novelization (which fleshes out lots on the comic book series, not unlike how the Revenge of the Sith novelization did for George Lucas' Prequel). 2:31: Shockingly, one of my least liked plot twists of all time. Look, I know Batman is a master of disguise (see Matches Malone in many continuities, particularly The Batman Adventures tie-in comic and Arkham Shadow), but COME ON, this is too far!!! Not even Sherlock Holmes can do such acting magic!!!!!! 2:50: I preferred Jeremy. Handsome name used by a bad man just feels so right than a gloomy one like Josiah, in my opinion. 3:04: Ugh, just like The Challenger from the Superman Adventures tie-in comics. At least The Commander from the same comics fulfilled his schtick well (he's a mind controller, if anyone's curious). 3:33: Wait, the voice of Toyman?!? 3:41: I'd rather prefer how Johan Liebert torments people. 4:09: Surprisingly, the hologram trick is fine by me. In B:TAS standards, it should have been absurdly out-of-place (and it still is, in hindsight), but this is set in the DCAU, where humanity gained space hyperspace-capable, amphibious, and laser firing Javelins on the speculative in-universe JLU year of 2004. 5:54: I have to wonder why "Riddler's Reform" needed this kind of memory bubble. That felt more like something out of the Tiny Toons Adventures/Animaniacs/Pinky and the Brain/Freakazoid universe, not the grounded DCAU. 6:42: Ep's flaws aside, I like the idea of a story's villains already being played like a fiddle by a more smarter, wilier, and maybe even more unhinged/pragmatic paragon all this time. Picture this situation: a hostile group like the Ku Klux Klan are ordered to start a brush war against "inhuman invaders" in the form of the denizens of Gravity Falls, Amphibia, and the Boiling Isles, only to receive irreparable setback after irreparable setback to the point that it all ends of a climactic last stand in a fortress community. Turns out, their charismatic, affable, and resourceful leader is actually a well planted Multiversal operative tasked in ultimately destroying such a foul bunch of degenerates via subterfuge and sabotage. Suffice to say, *they'll cathartically succeed,* even if their covert actions and true identity will never be revealed to the other characters (especially Luz and Amity, who are the poster girls for KKK assassinations for many obvious reasons; really, them being a kindhearted, influential, sapphic, interspecies couple with maybe well raised biological children birthed with unconventional means are just too tempting targets, heehee) even to the saga's end... you could say that they're a better ninja than Naruto. With Big Time in mind, there should be some nods to Terry's delinquent pals from the tie-in comics. Addendum: No mention of the fact that this ep first introduced the Bat-Signal? 2nd addendum: No random mention of The Trap Door? In a review of an ep about traps? For shame, SL!!!
I always liked this episode. I consider it excellent worldbuilding. Not only does it show Batman's nature, it shows the shadows of Gotham and the rest of the world. This is a world in which someone can actually make a job out of traps and tricky cruelty. That there's a market for Wormwood's services, enough so that the people who are willing to call upon him can easily contact him. And he doesn't for a moment doubt his employer, that tells me that the world he lives in, has such people in it. It implies a vast network, even a subculture, or corruption and crime that passes unremarked upon by everyone who doesn't wear a mask.
![Which Superhero Villain Should [Not] Be President (Or World Ruler)?](/img/1.gif)
Haven't seen the video yet, but something about the thumbnail saying "WORM" in all caps just tickles me lmao
Josiah's last name is WORMwood. Goes to show that DC doesn't do subtlety sometimes.
WORM
ALASKAN BULLWORM!!!!!!
@KNadoli extremely loud incorrect buzzer
W O R M
I really love that Batman had a second mask under his first one.
Quoth Major Glory from Dexter's Laboratory:
"When I said secret identity, I _mean_ secret identity!"
lol, reminds of Kakashi and that one filler episode of Naruto where them kids spend the whole episode trying to see under his mask only for him to have another one. Maybe one of the writers was inspired by that Batman episode?
Which thinking about it, why didn’t he wear one in mask of the phantasm?
@@changvasejarik62 according to the showrunners mask of the phantasm is a prequel. Meaning that he probably got the idea after that movie
I doubt it was underneath his cowl; more likely, Batman put on the backup mask in the dark.
@JanetStarChild Fair enough.
My favorite line was,”what do you intend to do with them” “I intend, to wear them”
When I first saw Wormwood, I thought he was supposed to be Riddler, without the costume. I was just starting to watch Batman and I hadn't seen Riddler's debut episode. On my defense, Wormwood and Nygma have the same va in my country and they kinda look alike.
Now that you mention it, BTAS Riddler and Wormwood do look oddly similar.
What if they are related? That would explain some things
@@Sakurali312 I can't be the only one who wondered what would happen if these two interacted.
@@ΕυάγγελοςΦώσκολος great minds think alike
This is actually one of my personal favorite episodes because it shows how Batman is able to manipulate criminals to his own ends, while also showing a genuine sort of respect towards Wormwood for his abilities. I always took Batman sending him the cowl to be both a taunt and a mark of respect in equal measure, as Wormwood's trap was successful even if Batman came out on top. Sort of "you won the battle, but not the war" deal.
Wormwood in the show also reminds me of Scarecrow, using manipulation and mind games to get his prey to act the way he wants. Maybe he was one of Crane's students? I mean someone had to enjoy taking his classes...
While not a true Riddler clone, it's seems to me that Wormwood had an effect on the actual Riddler. In Batman Forever, released three years after this episode, Riddler"s riddles are very similar to Wormwood's clues only shorter.
And that’s not the only time Joel Schumacher took inspiration from BTAS!
@SerumLake I get where you're coming from on episodes like this, but for me I'm kinda okay with not every single episode being movie worthy yk? I actually kinda wanted to see more episodes where Batman is just on an average day of patrol, beating up regular gangsters and overall just showing his competency and letting the animation speak for itself. You can still make a very simple situation an awesome spectacle to watch and be engaged with without always depending on larger than life characters or plot lines.
Bud Cort's back is aching from how much he's carrying this episode for me. And even then, he was much better utilized as Toyman.
Yes, his Toyman performance was great!
Fun fact: Bud Cort, the voice actor for Wormwood, also voiced Toyman in Superman: The Animated Series.
I remember watching this episode a few times and in retrospect, I actually think that he had potential as a character. He might not have ever been on par with one of the inmates at Arkham but he was nevertheless ruthless and calculating.
I joined as a member because I couldn't wait to see this video. I LOVED the C&CC. I always thought it was great writing to have Batman seemingly be defeated. Even knowing the ending, I always saw it as Batman didn't want to give up the cowl to him, but was outsmarted in the wax museum. He did win the war, but he lost that battle.
And I agree that Wormwood was one dimensional, but I think that more episodes would have helped flesh him out.
And now I'm realizing that I'm rambling and shouldn't make my first comment be a major thesis.
Great video!
If you'd like to write a massive essay in the comments you're more than welcome to! I should advertise it as a membership perk :)
Irony: the one who seeks controlled over others was controlled without even knowing it till the end.
I thought it was funny that Batman was just toying with Josiah the whole time and even letting him think the traps would work.
It did give us the durag batman meme.
Another great one. I had drawn the Wormwood/Riddler connection before, but I appreciate the distinct differences you point out.
On the subject, I observe that the Riddler Issue is evident here for the BTAS writing team; you mentioned before they often found it tough to think up suitably clever traps, ploys, and puzzles worthy of Riddler's mind-bending machinations. This is evident here too when the trap Wormwood comes up with (that's not the wax museum one taken from the comics) is a rote damsel tied to the tracks. However, not to be too hard on the team, I like the simple efficiency of the mini-golf sand trap.
But I agree, even a weaker BTAS episode makes for a pretty entertaining time overall. I specifically recall being entertained by Wromwood's riddles as a kid and the enjoyed how the locations he chose were all recreation venues that looked like they'd be pretty fun to visit before Wormwood reconfigured them.
Jigsaw for kids. Considering how little exposure Riddler got in this series, Wormwood could just be a way to use the extra deathtraps the writers came up with without having to do the work of coming up with plausible riddles to go with them. I actually remember this one really well from when I was a kid, Wormwood impressing with having a multi-layered deathtrap where getting past one lands you in the next.
I heard somewhere that the writers wanted to do more with Riddler, but the episodes they came up with were always too complicated to fit into the length of a single episode.
@@jordanloux3883 Riddler should honestly be more of a information broker in Arkham, like Hannibal. He gives you riddles of how the other villains operate, and Batman has to figure out what he means.
Wormwood: Just give me your cape and...cowl
I feel like Wormwood would have been better with the Arkhams SAW traps the riddler had.
In a way, Wormwood reminded me a lot of Arcade from the X-Men. For both guys it wasn’t the villains themselves that were the threat, but the death traps that they created in various rooms that were.
This is actually one of the first BTAS episodes I remember seeing.
This is one of my favorite episodes. I'm still upset that the audio on the Blu-ray is messed up. The quality control on the BTAS boxset is an embarrassment. The remaster for Mask of the Phantasm got my hopes up, but they clearly didn't put enough time and money into the remaster for the show. I'm glad I kept my DVD set.
I actually like Wormwood in concept. Watching everything from On Leather Wings to Destroyer you can see Batman cutting his teeth on folks like Wormwood. Not everything needs to be Lex Luther’s 36 part plan to be a living computer god, sometimes Joe Chill just wants a necklace.
That said watching this episode the first time I had a Maxwell Shrek moment.
“Baron Josek? Why are you dressed like Batman?”
It would’ve been so much funnier if Wormwood had said that too 🤣
Honestly a pretty cool villain, they should've used him again or maybe put him in the cadmus arc in jlu since other villains like professor milo and clock king reappeared that way as well
He was ok but he doesn't have that flare
What he does is interesting unfortunately his character is not unique enough to warrant further use
I always liked the episodes that didn't feature a regular rogue, they allow Batman to feature more. Episodes with Joker or Two-Face are about them, leaving Batman as a side character on his own show oftentimes.
Since this episode aired before the Riddler was introduced, I thought Wormwood WAS going to become the BTAS Riddler in a future episode. The comparison to The Riddler is due to both men sending people riddles, obviously.
Not to mention this episode was the debut of the bat signal!
Oddly this episode lived rent free in my head. i never caught to many episodes as a kid(the opening of btas scare me as a wee young-ling.) BUT i caught this episode and i really LOVED the twist at the end
Same here
This guy puts the "Worm" in Wormwood.
It's not "Heart Of Ice", but I like it a lot.
Honestly, on a recent rewatch, I think Cape and Cowl Conspiracy is on the higher end of my tier list. b+ At least.
The twists were fun, Wormwood was the right amount of insidious/pathetic and it showed a humourous side to Batman, at least imo, that he'd put on this whole charade just to help the police
When I first saw this episode I thought that they were setting up Wormwood to be the riddler
Can we just acknowledge how hilarious it is that under the mask, Batman just has ANOTHER mask? Because he absolutely would do something that ridiculous.
Not really? Batman was playing Wormwood like a kazoo the whole time and always intended to give up his cape and cowl to get the info he wanted.
While the episode as a whole may not be memorable, it contains one of my favorite scenes where Batman bursts into in the dinner, grabs the Baron and leave. Just feels like something Batman would do.
Even though this episode hasn't been on the top radar of many, I rather enjoy this episode! It's not everyday you get a death trap themed villain, it was quite enjoyable seeing Batman wear a chubby disguise knowing he had his cape and cowl handy!😅 Wormwood here was still willing to fight until he knew the gig was finally up! Plus that twist at the end was very awesome! Turning the typical boring episode into something memorable!😊
Fun fact: in the Latin American version, Wormwood was called "The Riddler". It was very confusing when the real Riddler was introduced.
This is easily one of my favorites. Classic Batman gambit!
There is also The Cluemaster who is similar to The Riddler. I found his origin story in an episode of The Batman where he used to be on a game show called Think, Thank, Thunk, and lost to someone smarter than him which he felt cheated! This version of Cluemaster was obese and wore an orange costume with the numbers, 1, 2, and 3 on it compared to his comic counterpart where he wore an orange outfit and wore a red scarf to cover his face. He was also the father to one of the Batgirls!
As much of a downgrade as he was, actually liked the obese design.
I kinda want to see a version with both the obese design and the comic history.
This episode has always been one of my favorites. Mostly because of the gag at the end of the episode. Comedy gold (also, this episode is the first appearance of the bat signal)
2:58 We, The Society of Jeremies, are not amused
This is still one of my favorite moments in television.
"I want...TO WEAR THEM!" I was a kid when I saw this and it gave me literal chills.
Edit: Yeah, I got the line wrong, I haven't seen this episode in thirty years...
Close enough though!
Wormwood is a intelligent villain like Riddler yet they have differences that separates them but his scheme of stealing the cape and cowl from Batman is something the Mad Hatter from the Adam West series would do
Honestly, I can see Wormwood/The Interrogator doing well in the modern climate if he's rebooted with a competent writer. He could be someone who's paid to extract information from people, with him having no true loyalties except who pays the most. An extra layer could be added by him being effective at getting info from criminals locked in Arkham about their plans on the outside and being paid by the warden to do so, but his tactics and freelance work putting him at odds with Batman. Just give him more characterization to make him more distinct from The Riddler, and you're set!
It would be interesting, especially if Batman realizes he can beat Wormwood by just putting him on the payroll. Plus it tackles an interesting question: How do you stop a criminal that enjoys being a criminal?
Edit: On top of it, maybe make him one of Professor Crane's students. Someone who Crane hates, since he thinks Wormwood is diluting his life's work into simple industrial espionage.
@@jordanloux3883 I love this idea!
You don't always need to have the highest stakes. Otherwise, the high stakes don't feel so high.
I remembered when you said some episodes had oddly stilted animation and I didn't know what you meant.
Then I saw this episode and was like, "Oh, yeah, I see it now."
Do love John Rhys Davies as the baron though. Fantastic casting.
The Strange Secret of Bruce Wayne is another one that stands out to me for having poor animation. Strange’s henchmen walk weirdly and their height keeps shifting when they’re standing next to Strange’s car.
@@SerumLake I haven't watched it in a while, but I remember this one in particular, momentum was always weird and things seemed like they weren't being effected by gravity normally.
Good old Indiana Jones' Sallah and Gargoyles' Macbeth, that guy.
@@SerumLake Strange Secret of Bruce Wayne is a decent episode but such a misfire of the Hugo Strange character. imagine if they had adapted Monster Men or Prey instead.
I believe there was an episode of the Adam West Batman where Mad Hatter tried to steal Batmans cape and cowl this episode always reminded me of that.
As a kid, this episode’s twist made it one of my favorite non-Supervillain episodes right alongside It’s Never Too Late. Having since gotten my hands on a copy of Detective Comics #450 I do appreciate some of the expansion to the story, it’s fleshed out very well.
Bud Court owned this role.
I kinda enjoyed Wormwood. I wanted him to appear more. I am curious to see how he would act if he had to work with Riddler.
I didn’t know that Wormwood was in the comics as I thought he was original character that I didn’t find interesting
During the early days of BTAS, when Alan Burnett first came on board, they needed to get scripts produced as quickly as possible. So Martin Pasko contacted some the Batman comic book writers he knew to see if he could get them to write a few scripts. That's how Marv Wolfman ended up cowriting Feat of Clay, Denny O'Neal adapted The Demon's Quest, and we got this episode.
The Cape and Cowl Conspiracy is, truth be told, one of my favorite episodes of Batman: The Animated Series. I honestly think it was well-written, and the 10-year old me was actually pissed when Batman was "defeated" but that disappointment turned into excitement when the reveal was made. Wormwood, to me, was a good villain of the week given his sadism and how he is not a typical supervillain with a dedicated gimmick.
6:17 Gotta say, that second mask looks cool on him.
Something i find pretty interesting is that, as far as i can tell, wormwood doesn't involve other people in his death traps. Only the target themself. Hell, in the train death trap, after batman finds out the woman was a hologram, i think wormwood even says something about that.
I have always been aware of the fact that I am in the minority when it comes to this episode. I put it in my top 25, and it certainly my favorite episode featuring a one-off character. I really like that Wormwood isn't interested in Batman; he's got a job to do and that's what he's here for. I never made the Riddler comparison until somebody else made it for me, as well. And oh my God that twist ending was mind-blowing to me as a kid. Maybe it is the nostalgia goggles as a result, but I will always love this episode.
Josiah Wormwood is a riddler wallaby he lacks the complexity of the riddler in almost in every way.
Only thing about this episode is that introduces the Batsignal which means any episode that doesn't have it are before this episode. Mask of the Phantasm happeneds after this episode. It does not happen before the show started.
I, personally, always got a kick with this episode, specifically how Batman fooled Wormwood into having a false sense of security, thinking he outsmarted him, when in reality, Batman won the whole time. That twist, alone, brings this episode up a few points, in my opinion. It really shows who Batman is, one of the greatest detectives and spies in fiction.
Ah yes, Big Time next time. The small time thug with delusions of hitting the big time. It's kind of funny how, even with super strength, he can't rise above being a petty thug. The best example: When he is in his own gang, and his "partner in crime" starts bringing in more guys, Big Time gets scared of being muscled out of his own gang, despite, you know, being the muscle.
That had to be a first trap room cartoon for batman
I remember when I first saw this, I thought this was supposed to be riddlers origin story
I'm surprised. This is still one of my favorite episodes of the show. I would actually put it in my personal top ten. I actually loved Wormwood as a character and his use in the episode made it feel more grounded to me. It felt like a great detective episode or film and while he wasn't the flashy villain like a Riddler or Joker, he had a lot of qualities I really liked.
I’ve watched this episode and it’s a good one imo, i’ve heard Wormwood is similar to Jigsaw in the way he uses his traps i do wish they made his design stick out a bit more like giving him a mask. Apparently they changed the name of the person Wormwood is working for too, Baron Wacklaw Josek. This is also the first appearance of the Batsignal so that counts.
Wormwood is a dollar-store Riddler.
While I didn't enjoy this episode much, I think the reveal that Batman was secreting pushing Wormwood into doing these schemes on himself was quite the jumpscare.
And they didn't use The Imposter Mad Hatter for this?
Finally got to start watching Btas again, it’s been so good.
I... kind of liked this one, but I agree it's not the best of the best.
Dont let him do that. Love this episode.
This Year Plz Do Videos Talking About The Villains Seen In The Following Superhero Shows
1)Batman The Brave And The Bold
2)Teen Titans
3)Legion Of Superheroes
4)Young Justice
5)Green Lantern The Animated Series
6)Teen Titans Go
7)Batwheels
8)My Adventures With Superman
9)Harley Quinn + Kite Man Hell Yeah
10)The Spectacular Spider-Man
11)X-Men The Animated Series
12)Spider-Man The Animated Series
13)Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1987
14)Captain Planet
15)He Man 2002
16)The Tick
17)Darkwing Duck
18)Ben 10
19)The Powerpuff Girls
20)Danny Phantom
21)Hulk The Animated Series
22)Iron Man The Animated Series
23)Fantastic Four The Animated Series
24)The Superhero Squad Show
25)Fantastic Four Worlds Greatest Heroes
26)Iron Man Armored Adventures
27)X-Men Evolution
28)Wolverine And The X-Men
29)The Avengers Earths Mightiest Heroes
30)Spider-Man 2003
to be fair i enjoy their kind of ep
some time batman just need to do a low end crime with basic crimeal
if ever batman case is some big 100s of lives at threat it be draining
so now and then smaller scalre ep works well
I loved this episode. This was a lot like when Batman impersonated Killer Croc in Almost Got 'Em which is another one of my favorite episodes.
This show was goated & I love your videos
Can you make a video about Batman the brave and the bold please. It‘s one of my all time favorite Batman shows and I whould love if you whould make a video about it.
I will get to it one day. If it’s any consolation I’ve talked about Brave and the Bold versions of characters in my Character Comparison series of videos: ruclips.net/p/PL0YgbPmiDIr4cCUP9DYhYkMmsV3pjAQ7o&si=prAalVvAPPHPQTw5
@@SerumLake Thanks😁👍
This episode is one of my favorites!
So i think youre right as to why they changed his first name, but for the wrong reason. Wormwood is in Revelations so i think they changed his name to Josiah to complete the Biblical naming scheme.
Plus, yes, it does sound better
I loved the twist near the end but otherwise the episode is a bit mid
The only highlight of the episode was the debut of the bat signal
I love this episode. Great writing
At first I thought he was supposed to be the Riddler when I saw this
When ever you run out of Batman topics you always can switch to Darkwing Duck reviews. Like comparing the characters from the show to the characters they parodying.
didn't know premier was happening
Premieres happen every Monday and Friday!
@@SerumLake thanks for letting me know!
I dunno. While certainly not a stand out episode, I kind of appreciate this one for its lower stakes and showing Batman dealing with more mundane criminals than his typical rogue's gallery. And this early in the run, I can see the studio trying to gin up a few lesser known or home grown antagonists to give the series its own identity. Wormwood himself might not be anything too special, but (to use the wrestling parlance), he makes for a good "squash match" for Batman as the series builds up to more substantive confrontations.
Thanks for the video
I'm surprised that it's ranked so low. Personally, I think it's a good episode. I like these more grounded stories where the most outlandish element is Batman himself.
Plus the twist reveal is such a great showcase of Batman's talents; that he's not just a pugilant PI, but also a master of disguise.
I actually really liked this episode. Of course, that's a commonality for me: I tend to like the ones others describe as the worst, the least interesting, the ones that are entirely skippable in people's minds. They help flesh out the world Batman lives in. The writing on some of these is only "okay" and the animation is not the best. But there are redeeming values even to stinkers like I've Got Batman in my Basement … they all have their charm.
(huh, why are so many of the weakest BTAS episodes featuring the Penguin?)
This ain't a very flawed ep, unlike "Prophecy of Doom", but I can see that it needed more adjustments. Case in point, this could have been a Riddler ep and made a fine interquel to "If You're So Smart, Why Aren't You Rich?" and "What Is Reality?" (and considering the latter ep, that means the Riddler should brilliantly get away with it, unlike Wormwood).
1:02: At least the adaptation has good presentation that makes it at least nicely rewatchable. Cannot say the same about the Phoenix and Dark Phoenix Sagas of X-Men: The Animated Series, which are sluggish both in comic and cartoon form.
1:17: Dang, censorship actually IMPROVED on the ep title.
1:34: Author of the Superman: Last Son of Krypton and Miracle Monday novels (worth reading for fans of weird and wonderful Richard Donner Superman, by the way) and the Kingdom Come novelization (which fleshes out lots on the comic book series, not unlike how the Revenge of the Sith novelization did for George Lucas' Prequel).
2:31: Shockingly, one of my least liked plot twists of all time. Look, I know Batman is a master of disguise (see Matches Malone in many continuities, particularly The Batman Adventures tie-in comic and Arkham Shadow), but COME ON, this is too far!!! Not even Sherlock Holmes can do such acting magic!!!!!!
2:50: I preferred Jeremy. Handsome name used by a bad man just feels so right than a gloomy one like Josiah, in my opinion.
3:04: Ugh, just like The Challenger from the Superman Adventures tie-in comics. At least The Commander from the same comics fulfilled his schtick well (he's a mind controller, if anyone's curious).
3:33: Wait, the voice of Toyman?!?
3:41: I'd rather prefer how Johan Liebert torments people.
4:09: Surprisingly, the hologram trick is fine by me. In B:TAS standards, it should have been absurdly out-of-place (and it still is, in hindsight), but this is set in the DCAU, where humanity gained space hyperspace-capable, amphibious, and laser firing Javelins on the speculative in-universe JLU year of 2004.
5:54: I have to wonder why "Riddler's Reform" needed this kind of memory bubble. That felt more like something out of the Tiny Toons Adventures/Animaniacs/Pinky and the Brain/Freakazoid universe, not the grounded DCAU.
6:42: Ep's flaws aside, I like the idea of a story's villains already being played like a fiddle by a more smarter, wilier, and maybe even more unhinged/pragmatic paragon all this time. Picture this situation: a hostile group like the Ku Klux Klan are ordered to start a brush war against "inhuman invaders" in the form of the denizens of Gravity Falls, Amphibia, and the Boiling Isles, only to receive irreparable setback after irreparable setback to the point that it all ends of a climactic last stand in a fortress community.
Turns out, their charismatic, affable, and resourceful leader is actually a well planted Multiversal operative tasked in ultimately destroying such a foul bunch of degenerates via subterfuge and sabotage. Suffice to say, *they'll cathartically succeed,* even if their covert actions and true identity will never be revealed to the other characters (especially Luz and Amity, who are the poster girls for KKK assassinations for many obvious reasons; really, them being a kindhearted, influential, sapphic, interspecies couple with maybe well raised biological children birthed with unconventional means are just too tempting targets, heehee) even to the saga's end... you could say that they're a better ninja than Naruto.
With Big Time in mind, there should be some nods to Terry's delinquent pals from the tie-in comics.
Addendum: No mention of the fact that this ep first introduced the Bat-Signal?
2nd addendum: No random mention of The Trap Door? In a review of an ep about traps? For shame, SL!!!
riddler and wormwood have the same haircut
Awesome!🤩
I always rememeber. "I am goign to wear them."
I enjoyed this episode
Very underrated episode in my opinion. Love the twist.
Has he talked about that one episode where Batman fights his robot double?
Ultimately just kinda sounds like a situation of one of the episodes that was bad because some had to be.
I always liked this episode. I consider it excellent worldbuilding. Not only does it show Batman's nature, it shows the shadows of Gotham and the rest of the world. This is a world in which someone can actually make a job out of traps and tricky cruelty. That there's a market for Wormwood's services, enough so that the people who are willing to call upon him can easily contact him. And he doesn't for a moment doubt his employer, that tells me that the world he lives in, has such people in it. It implies a vast network, even a subculture, or corruption and crime that passes unremarked upon by everyone who doesn't wear a mask.
The tier list format needs to die already.
Wormwood is what the riddler wishes he was.
I've always considered this to be the worst episode of the entire DCAU, but I like The Terrible Trio so don't trust my taste.
This is why I watch this episode first.
Am I the only one who thinks this could have worked as a Riddler story? I wish he would have gotten more episodes.
One of my favorite episodes,really fun
I'll be honest, I hated this episode, I found it really boring maybe I should try and watch it again.
I'm a Jeremy watching and I am not offended.
I don't know why, but now a days, I picture Wormwood more of Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory (I've never even watched that series)
BWF
Good 💩, keep it up!